And now I return, an essay on leadership

It's been over a month since I posted, I realize that. It's been a busy month or so, getting ready to start my masters' program, etc. I feel a drive to get back to blogging though, so expect to see more activity. To start, here's an essay I had to write in class about leadership:

What do you think makes a good leader?

A good leader has the ability (vision) to see the ways that will lead the team (organization, class, group, etc.) toward the goals that have been given to or agreed to by the leader (and hopefully, group). Often leaders have some behaviors that are commonly found in those who manage people, but good leaders seem to always have these behaviors: integrity, fairness, honesty and a good grasp of how to best treat people with respect to get their cooperation or buy-in and enthusiasm for their work and goals. Some of the best leaders usually have the ability to figure out the strengths of those they work with and how to best utilize these (resource management).

What I have found makes a good leader for me is trust in that person to keep my best interests in mind when recruiting me to their cause. Knowing my values is not necessary, but not requiring me to do anything that is counter to my values to achieve the outcome desired by the leader is necessary.

A supportive manner is usually present in the best of leaders. Support to achieve the outcomes that are best for me, my patients, my family, the organization (this really can happen).

Excellent communication skills, the ability to express ideas in ways that inspires the team. Clear, open communication about organizational processes - keeping the team together on where they are going and how it is better for the team and our patients. Being consistent in how they treat their team, as a group and on an individual level. Nonjudgmental unless absolutely necessary for safety or discipline situations, but it should always be fair, non-biased.

I invite feedback and input. I only had a few minutes to write this essay in class, so I know I missed a huge number of ideas that could easily help me describe what I feel are the basics for a good leader. Some of the above stems from bad leaders I have had and me identifying that essential characteristic (or characteristics) missing that make our relationship rocky. I have had too many leaders that I have struggled to have any kind of trust in, maybe it's me, but I know that I have had leaders I trusted and those experiences helped me identify the reasons why I am not trusting a particular leader.